Method and apparatus for coating cores



a H. G. WALKER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING CORES Filed Feb. 26. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l l J J7me]: Howard 6'. Walter 1,615,423 J 25 1927' H. G. WALKER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING CORES Filed Feb. 26, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Howard G. Wal/fer Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES PAT ENT, OFFICE,

HOWARD GEORGE .WALKER, OI BERWYN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELEC- TRIO COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.', A,GORPORATIO IN OF NEW yonxl METHOD AI IARATUS FOR COATING CORES.

Application filed February 26, ms. Serial No. 621,242.

This invention relates to "a method and apparatus for coating. cores.

The object of the invention is to produce a core having a coating of pulp thereon which is attached to the core solely by the intermingling of the fibers thereof and withforaminous member and onthe core' Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged views showing the form of the pulp coating onthe core asout the use of any adhesive substance.

Briefly, the method consists in depositing pulpous material upon a foraminous mem ber, bringing the core to be coated into contact with the deposited pulp on the foraminous member, depositing an, additional amount of pulp on the core and on the foraminous member, bringing the core and pulp on the foraminous member into contact with a carrier, preferably a felt, trans ferring the pulp and core from the foraminous member to the carrier removing the pulp and core from the carrier, and forming the pulp around the core so as to constitute a homogeneous coating therefor.

The present method maybe employed to advantage for insulating electrical conductors. but itis to be understoodthat it is not limited to this purpose but only in so far as is defined why the appended claims.

' Vl1ere themethod is used for insulating electrical conductors manila, wood, rag, cotton, esparto, Jute, hem and asbestos pfulps may be employed as t e coating material, but other materials than those specified may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention,

the coating ofianyvcore'with any pulp.

The drawings illustrate an apparatus by which the method may. be practiced, 1 the apparatus being especially designed; for coating'aa core in strand form, butit 1-t0 be understood that other apparatusfl' may be'devised for coating coresin'other forms,

without departing fromv the spirit and scope of the inventions The word pulp as used in the specifi cation and claims is to beunderstood as defining and including any cohering, fibrous mass whether suspended in a liquid, moist, or substantially dry.

- In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side 'ele'va'tion of a preferred afmaratus for performing the process;

Fig. 2 isan enlarged top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, parts being omitted for the sake of clearness;

Fig. '3 is an enlarged fragmentarytop plan view showing the felt carrier for receiving the pulpous material from the foraminous member;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary r, i

s ective view showing the manner in w ich t e pulpous material is deposited on the it is delivered from-the carrier and the which ,like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views, a core to be coated isfed from a supply roll 10 'over an idler roll 11 and thence around steps of the method will be readi yadrum 12 which is partly submerged a W liquid containing ical trough 13. I H g r The drum 12may be of an'y suitable type, preferably comprising a pair of sheet metal sides .14 (Fig, 4) and a peripheral portion pulp within a semi-sphervided with ,avplurality of relatively large perforationstl6 which are covered with a "strip of ,fine wire mesh 17 The drurnhas" :1 central tubular axle 18 which is rotatably mounted ,in suitable bearings 19 carried by rtheffralnework 20 which supports all elements of -the apparatus, The level of the pulp mixture within the, drum 12 is maintainedtat a lower level than that of the ulp in the tank 13, as indicated by dotted ines A and B respectively. This difference in levels is maintained by a sy hon pipe 21 of the 15 secured thereto. The portion 15 is prowhich hasits inlet submerge in the drum 12 and its discharge through the tubular axles A continuous circulation of the pul mixture is. maintained within .the tan a supply. pipe22 which maybe connected to a supply tank (not shown) into the tank 13, out of the said tank by a pipe 23 into a receiving tank (not shown) from which it is pumped back into the supply tank in any suitable manner. As the drum 12 revolves in the tank, due to the difference in levels by feeding the .pulp mixture from of the liquids in the drum and meats liquid will pass through the finewire mesh, straining pulp onto the surface of the Wire mesln Attention is called to the fact that the idler roll 11 is so spaoed from the periphery of the drum 12 that the core is held out of contact with that section of the foraminous portion Which is near the surface of the liquid in the tank, whereby pulp is strained onto said section of the foraminous portion beforethe strand is brought into contact therewith. The first deposit of pulp on the foraminous portion is indicated by the letter C (Fig. 4). As the drum revolves in the tank, an additional amount of pulpous material will be deposited on top of the core and also upon the foraminous portion of the drum, forming a thicker coating indicated by the letter D in Fig. 4:. The drum 12 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow and the pulp on the foraminous portion 17 thereof together with the core are brought into contact with a felt covered roll 24. The periphery of the roll 24 has a foraminous portion formed of fine wire mesh 52-5 covered by felt 26, as shown in detail in Fig. 3, and as the pulp on the foraminous portion of the drum is brought into contact therewith, the free liquid so to speak, in the pulp mixture Will be squeezed out partially through the foraminous portion of the drum and partially through. the felt and toraininous portion of the roll 2- The partially dried pulp adheres to the felt in the form of a ribbon with the core substantially centrally located therein as shown in Fig. 5. and the core with the pulp ribbon attached passes around the roll 2% and between it and a second felt covered roll lhe rolls 2% and 27 are carr: able bracket 28 supported by t 20, the roll 24 beinp positioned foraminous portion of the drum slight pressure. The rolls 2 T? are forced together by any su tension means which is adjustable to ctr-er i the proper pressure between the core. and pulp ribbons as they pass between the rolls "iis pressure serving to mat the pulpous matx'ial and secure it to the core to such an e that as the core leaves the rolls it w ll car-r7, the pulp ribbon with it.

From the rolls 24 and 27 the pulp ribbon attached is passed ween a of squeezing rolls 29 and 30, which also forced together by any suitable means which is adjustable to present the proper pressure on the core and pulp ribbons a' they pass between he rolls. these rolls ing to remove a with its cli'tionsl moisture from the pnlp ribbon and to more firmly mat the fibers at the ribbon attach to the core. m e coustruct' t the pulp coating as it leaves the squeezing rolls 29 and 30 is shown in Fig.

From the squeezing rolls the core with its ribbon pulp coating is drawn through a former which Wraps the projecting edges of the ribbon around the core and around each other. the appearance of the coating after it is first acted on by the former and after the forming action is completed being shown clearly in Figs. 7 and 8 respectively. The former causes a thorough intermingling of the pulp fibers and shapes the coating so that it embraces the core and conforms to the shape thereof. This step of the process forms the coating into a mass so homogeneous that upon cutting the core and coating, the latter will not fray or ravel and will not become easily detached from the core.

The former, indicated by the reference numeral 35, is illustrated as being of the same type as that fully shown and described in a co-pending application of \Valkcr and March, Serial No. 547.923, filed March .29, 1922. Reference is made to this application for a full disclosure thereof.

The former comprises essentially two plates ll and 2 which wrap the projecting edges of the pulp ribbon around each other and around the core in much the same manner as though the core and pulp ribbon were rolled on a table top with the palm of the hand.

The core with its formed coating is drawn from the former and subjected to a mcclu nism for thoroughly drying out the coating. The means shown for performing this step in the process are a pair of wide hollow drums 51 and 52 heated internally and having a plurality of grooves formed thereon (Fig. 2) which receive the core, guides (not shown) being; provided tor directing the core over first one drum and then the other until it has traversed all oi the grooves on both drums. after which it is stored on a receiving: drum 5st. The drums 5i and 532 are revolvebly mounted in suitable bearings carried by vertical standards supported by the framework. The receiving drum 54 is also revolvably mounted in bearings carried by brackets 55 supported by the framework 2' and is driven by a motor 556 through suit able beltin", the drums 5i. and being driven from the drum 5% also through a suit able belting system.

Althousrh it has been stated that the pr1 mary object of the invention is to apply a coating of pulp to a core without the use of any adhesive sub tance. the process herein disclosed may he use i with a pulp mixture containing a sizing subs may be deposited on a core which has been previously treated with an adhesive agent. without departing from the spirit and scope of the present lnvcnti n.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of coatin form with pulp, which c ice. or the pulp pulpous material from liquid suspension, positioning the core adjacent said material, depositing additional pulpous material on the core, transferring the core and all of said pulpous material to a carrier, removing said material from the carrier and then forming the material on the core to constitute a coating thereon. I

2. A m hod of coating a core in strand form with pulp. which consists in colle:-ting wet, pulpous material from liquid suspension, placing the, core adjacent said material, depositing additional wet, pulpous material on the core. transferring the core and all of said pulpous material 'to a carrier and simultaneously removing some of the moisture from said material, removing said material from the carrientorming the material on the core to constitute a coating thereon and then removing substantially all the moisture from Said material.

A method of coating 21 core in strand form with pulp, which consists in forming a sheet of wet, pulpous material from liquid suspension, positioning the core adjacent said sheet of-material, depositing additional wet, pulpous material on the core, transferring the core and all of said pulpousmaterial to a carrier and simultaneously removing some of the moisture from said material, removing said material from the carrier, forming said material around the core to form a homogeneous Coating therefor conforming with the shape of the core, and then removing substantially all the moisture from said material.

at. A method of coating a core in strand forinwith pulp, which consists in collecting pulpous material from liquid suspension, positioning the core adjacent said material, depositing additional pulpous material on said core, transferring the core and all of the pulpous material to a moving felt, re-" moving said material from said felt and then forming the material on the core to constitute a coating thereon.

A method of coating a core in strand form with pulp, consisting in forming a ribbon of pulpous material from liquid suspension, placing the core adjacent said material, depositing additional pulpous material on the core and on said ribbon, transferring the core and said pulpous ribbon to a carrier, removing said material from the carrier and then forming the material on the core to constitute a coating thereon.

(i. A method of coating a core in strand form with pulp, consisting in depositing from a liquid suspension of pulp a ribbon of wet pulpous material ona foraminous member, placing the core adjacent said deposited material. depositing additional wetpulpous material on the core and on saidribbon. transferring the core and said pulpous ribbon from the foraminous member from said ribbon, and then removing said' ribbon from the carrier and wrapping it around the core to form a homogeneous coating therefor.

8. A; method of coating a core with ulp, which consists in depositing from a liquid suspension of pulp a ribbon of wet pulpous material on a torannnous member, placing the core adjacent said pulpous material, depositing additional wet pulpous material on the core and on said llbbOll, transterring .the core and said pulpous ribbon from the foraminous member to a carrier and simul* taneously removing some of the moisture from said ribbon, removing said ribbon from the carrier and wrapping it around the core to form a homogeneous coatin therefor, and then'removing substantially all of the moisture from said coating.

9. A method of coating a core with pulp, whichconsists in forming a ribbon of pulpous material from liquid suspension, placing the core adjacent said material, depositing additional pulpous material on the core and on the-ribbon, transferring the core and said ribbon toa moving felt, and then removing said material from the felt.

10. A method of coating a core with pulp, which consists in. forming a ribbon of pulpous material from liquid suspension, placing the core adjacent said material, depositing' additional pulpous material on the core and the ribbon, transferring the core andsaid ribbon to a moving felt, removing said material from the felt, and then wrapping said ribbon around said core to constitute a' i hon'iogeneous covering therefor.

11. A method of coating a core in strand form with pulp, which consists informing a ribbon of wet )ulpous material from liquid suspension. placing the core adjacent said material, depositing additional wet pulpous material on the core and on said ribbon, transferring the core and said ribbon to a carrier, and simultaneously removing some 5 of the moisture from said ribbon,'removin" an additional amount of moisture from said ribbon and then forming the material on the core to constitute a coating thereon.

12. A method of coating a core with ulp, which consists in forming 'a' ribbon 0% wet pulpous material from liquid suspension, placing the core adjacent said material, depositing additional wet pulpous material on the core and on,said ribbon, transferrin the core and said ribbon toa carrier, anc simultaneously removing some of the moisture from said ribbon, removing an additional amount of moisture from said. ribbon, and then wrapping said ribbon around the core to form a homogeneous coating therefor.

13. A method of coating a core with pulp, which consists in forming a ribbon of wet pulpous material from liquid suspension, placing the core adjacent said material, depositing additional wet pulpous material on the core and on said ribbon, transferring the core and said ribbon to a carrier and simultaneously removing some of the moisture from said ribbon, removing an additional amount of moisture from said ribbon, wrapping said ribbon around the eer e to form a homogeneous coating therefor, and then removing substantially all of the moisture from said coating i i 14. In a machine for coating a core in strand form, a tank of liquid containing pulp, a rotatable member mounted in said tank, said member having a foraminous portion, means for straining pulp from said liquid onto said foraminous portion, means for drawing said strand around said rotatable member and into contact with the deposited material on said foraminous portion, and means for removing said pulp and core from saidforaminous portion, said means comprising a moving carrier pressed against the pulp on said foraminous portion and means for forming said material to constitute a coating for the core.

15. In a machine for coating a core in strand form with pulp, a tank of liquid containing pulp, a rotatable member mounted in said tank, said member having a foraminous portion, means for straining pulp from said li uid onto said foraminous portion, means or drawing said strand around said rotatable member and into contact'with the deposited material on said foraminous portion, and means for removing said pulp and core from said foraminous portion, said means comprising a moving felt pressed against the pulp on said foraminous portion and means for forming said material to constitute a coating for the core.

16. In a machine for coating a core in strand form with pul a tank of liquid containing pulp, a rotata le member mounted in said tank, said member having a fo 'aminous portion, means for straining pulp from said liquid onto said foraminous portion, means for drawing said strand around said rotatable member and into contact with said foraminous portion, means for holding said strand out of contact with that'section of the around said rotatable member pressed against the pulp on said foraminous portion and means for forming said material to constitute a coating for the core.

17. In a machine for coating :1 core in strand form with pulp, a tank of liquid containing pulp, a rotatable member mounted in said tank, said member having a foraminous portion, means for straining pulp from said liquid onto said foraminous portion, means for drawing said strand and into contact with said foraminous portion, means for holding said strand out of contact with that section of the foraminous portion which is near the surface of the liquid in the tank whereby pulp is strained onto said section of the foraminous portion beforethc strand is brought into contact therewith, a rotatable felt, means for pressing said felt against the pulp on the foraminous portion whereby a continuous ribbon of pulp is transferred to the felt, means for removing the strand and said pulp ribbon from the felt, and means for forming said ribbon to constitute a coating on the core.

18. In a machine for coating a core in strand form with pulp, a tank of liquid containing pulp, a rotatable member mounted in said tank, said member having a foraminous portion, means for straining pulp from said liquid onto said foraminous portion, means for drawing said strand around said rotatable member and into contact with said foraminous portion, means for holding said strand out of contact with that section of the foraminous portion which is near the surface of the liquid in the tank whereby pulp is strained onto said section of the foraminous portion before the strand is brought into contact therewith. and means for removing said pulp and strand from said foraminous portion, said means comprising a rotatable felt pressed against the pulp on the foraminous portion, means for drawing said core around said rotatable felt and means for forming said material to constitute a coating for the core.

19. In a machine foiycoating a core instrand form with pulp, a tank of liquid containing pul a rotatable member mounted in Sill( tank. said member having a foraminous portion, means, f r straining pulp from said liquid onto said foraminous portion. means for drawing said strand around said rotatable member and into contact with said foraminous portion, means for holding said strand out of contact with that section of the forami- I as strained into said section of the forami--' nous portion before the strand is brought into contact therewith, a rotatable felt, means for pressing said felt against the pulp and core on the foraminous portion, whereby a continuous ribbon of pulp is transferred to said felt, means for drawing said core around said felt and means for forming said material to constitute a coating'for the core.

20. In a machine for vcoating a core in strand form with pulp, atank of liquid containing pulp, a rotatable member mounted in said tank, said member having a foraminous portion, means for straining pulp from said liquid onto said for-aminous portion, means for drawing said strand around said rotatable member and into contact with said foraminous portion, means for holding said strandout of contact with that section of the foraminous portion which is near the surface of the liquid in the tank whereby pulp is strained onto said section of the foraininous portion before the strand is brought into contact therewith, a rotatable felt, means for pressing said felt against the pulp and core on the foraminous portion, whereby a continuous ribbon of pulp with the core positioned substantially at the center thereof 'is transferred to said fel ,means for drawing said core with itsattac ed ribbon of pulp around said felt, means for removing the core and said'ribbon from said felt and means for forming said material to constitute a coating for the core.

21. In a machine for coating a core in strand form with pulp, a tank of liquid containing pulp, a rotatable member, mounted in said tank, said member having a foraminous portion, means for straining pulpgfrom said liquid onto ,said fOIQLIIllHOllSwPOIfblOIl, means for drawing said strand around said rotatable member andinto contact with said foraminous port-ion, means for holding said strand out of contact with that-section of the foraminous portion which is near the surface of the liquid in the'tank whereby pulp is strainedonto'saidsection of the foraminous portion before the strand is brought into contact therewith, a rotatable felt, means for pressin the pul and core on t e foraminous portion, w ereby a continuous ribbon of pulp with the core ositioned substantially at the center thereof is transferred to said felt, means for drawing said core and its attached ribbon of pulp around saidlfelt, andmeans for'wrapping said ribbon around the core to constitute a homogeneous coating therefor.

22. In a machine forcoating a core in strand form with pulp,ia tank 0 liquid containing pulp, a rotatable member mounted said felt against in said tank, saidmember having a foraminous portion, means for straining pulp from said liquid onto said foraminous portioni means for drawing said'strand around sai rotatable member and into contact with said foraininous portion, means for holding said strand out of contact with that section of the foraminous portion which is near the surface of the liquid in the tank whereby pulp is strained onto said section of the foraminous portion, before the strand is brought into contact therewith, a rotatable felt, means for pressing said felt against the pulp and core on the foraminous portion, whereby a continuous ribbon of pulp with the core positioned substantially at the center thereof is transferred to said felt, means for drawing said core with its attached pulp ribbon around said felt, means for wrapping said ribbon around the core to constitute a homogeneous coating therefor, and means for removing substantially all of the moisture from said coating.

25. In a machine for coating a core in strand form with pulp, a tank of liquid containing pulp, a rotatable member mounted in said tank, said member having a foraminous portion, means for straining pulp from said liquid onto said foraminous portion, means for drawing said strand around said rotatable member and into contact with said surface of the liquid in the tank whereby pulp is strained onto said section of the foraminous portion, before the strand is brought into contact therewith, a rotatable felt,"means for pressing said felt against the I pulp and core on the foraminous portion, whereby a continuous ribbon of pulp with the core positioned substantially at the center thereof is transferred to said felt, means for-drawing said core with its attached pulp ribbon around said felt, means for squeezing moisture from said ribbon and means for wrapping said ribbonaround the core to constitutea homogeneous coating therefor.

24. Ina machine for coating a core in strand form with pulp, a tank of liquid con taining pulp, a rotatable member mounted in said tank, said member having a foraminous portion,'means for straining pulp from said 1i uidonto said foraminous portion, means for drawing said strand around said rotatable member and into contact with said foraminousportion, means for holding said strand out of contact with that section of the foraminous portion which is near the surface of vthe liquid in the tank whereby pulp is strained onto said sectionof the foraminous portion,

before the strand is I brought into contact therewith, a rotatable, felt, means for pressing said felt against the pulp and core on the foraminous portionwhereby a continuous ribbon of pulp with the core positioned substantially at the center 7 thereof is transferred to, said felt, means for drawing said core and its attached pulp 5 ribbon around said felt, means for squeezing moisture from said ribbon, means for wrapping said ribbon around the core to oonsti-- tute a homogeneous coating therefor, and means for removing substantially all of the moisture from said coating.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 16th day of Feb, A. D. 1923.

HOWARD GEORGE WALKER. 

